With a loud yell the robber reeled and fell from his saddle, and in a twinkling both his companions fired their pistols at the traveler, and bore, with a simultaneous cry of rage, down upon him.

Neither of the shots had taken effect, but the two enraged highwaymen would have made short work of their victim had not Sir Norman, like a true knight, ridden to the rescue.

Drawing his sword, with one vigorous blow he placed another of the assassins hors de combat; and, delighted with the idea of a fight to stir his stagnant blood, was turning (like a second St.George at the Dragon), upon the other, when that individual, thinking discretion the better part of valor, instantaneously turned tail and fled.

The whole brisk little episode had not occupied five minutes, and Sir Norman was scarcely aware the fight had began before it had triumphantly ended.
"Short, sharp, and decisive!" was the stranger's cool criticism, as he deliberately wiped his blood-stained sword, and placed it in a velvet scabbard.

"Our friends, there, got more than they bargained for, I fancy.